Refrigerating apparatus



Aug. 17, 1937. H. B. HULL REFRIGERATING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 50, 1954 INVENTOR. Harry B. Hu// ATTORNEYS Aug. 17, 1937. HUB. HULL REFRIGERATING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 50, 1934 g Q? x INVENTOR f7 5. HQ

' 2 ATTORNEYS Aug. 17, 1937. H. B. HULL 2,089,961

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 30, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 xaxxxkx a mam? Qxwx gkiiaxa m&x\ j

@ g E 3: I INVENTOR.

Hdrl'y A TORNEY) semi Au 11, 1931 umrno, STATES Harry B. Hull, Dayton, Motors Corporation, tion of Delaware Application 26 Claims.

This invention relates to refrigeration. It is an object of this invention to provide a simplified refrigerator in which foods may be stored without undue 10 Further obiects and advantages inven on will be apparent from the scription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of an apparatus embodying features of my invention; Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken transversely of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1, 'fied form of the invention;

Fig. 4 shows a modiflcaion shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a view, partly-in cross-section and partlyir'i elevation, showing another modification:

Fig. 6 is a view, somewhat but showing a further modification;

Figs. '7, 8 and 9 are crossing pans adaptable to the mo in Figs. 3 and 4. In practicing this invention.

vided with a food storage compartment H which is pr ith a cooling Preferably. hr the modification shown, 2, this cooling unit the compartment, and'a flat bafi'le tally extended beneath the cooling unit and curves into a vertical portion .l 4 to form a vertical flat flue at the rear of the compartment ll. door l5 isprovided at the front of tire compartment. Meansare provided for circulating water in contact with the air in the compartment H. To air moistener I6 is placed behind the baffle M and a drain pan I1 is positioned to catch any unevaporated moisture at the bottom of the vertical flue It. .'A pump lO-is connected with the drain pan l1 and with the moistener form a fluid circulating circuit. A' purifier 20 is placed in this circuit and is provided with a p ifying medium 2!, such as activated charcoal, so that purified water is'discharged at the moistener it. The pump is may be driven by an electric motor energized from leads I.

Refrigeration for the cooling provided by any suitable means. ing unit (not shown) 5 of a refrigerating circuit showing a modi;

of the embodiment and sectional views showdificationsv shown,

a cabinet i0 is pro"- within its walls which forms a This circuit may in- Ohio, asslgnor Dayton, Ohio,

similar to Fig. 5,

aporatins space nsralcnaa'rma srrnna'rus to General a corpora- November 30, 1934, Serial No. 155,383

clude a refrigerant liquefying unit 22 from which liquid refrigerant flows through the pipes 23 and 2A to the unit l2 and from whence evaporated refrigerant flows through the line 25 back to the unit 22.

If desired, the cabinet may be provided with a freezing compartment 28 having a cooling unit or evaporator 21 which may also be connected with the refrigera unit In such a case liquid refrigera the pipes 23 and 28 to the evaporator ted refrigerant may return through the branch to the suction line 25 and from unit 22.

. It is sometimes desirable to' maintain the unit 1 l2 at a higher temperature than the unit 21 and this may be accomplished by providing a pressure regulating valve 30 which is responsive to the pressures in the unit l2 and which throttles the line 25 and prevents the pressure in the unit .l2 20 from being reduced below a predetermined limit. This limit preferably is such that the temperature of the unit I2 is maintained high enough to prevent the formation of frost thereon but is cold enough to provide proper refrigeration for the 25 compartment ll. liquid refrigerant is expanded by a is controlled by a thermostat bulb 32 in such a manner that liquid refrigerant is introduced into the evaporator space when pressure ,therein is reduced below a predetermined limit, but the valve is throttled by the bulb 32 whenever the refrigerating effect alve 33 is provided for the have a thermostatic bulb in the same er tem-' peratures.

Th'e refrigerant liquefying unit 22 may include a compressor 35 driven by a motor 30. A compressor discharges into a condenser liquid refrigerant receiver 38 which is connected to'the pipe 2 An automatic control for start ing andstopping the. unit 22 is'provided,'and

include. a bellow snap switch 40 which starts and stops the motor use to pressures in the line 25.

Means may be provided for evaporating excess moisture. This may take the form of a heater ll which is connected 44 which are connected to the electric leads when water. flows'into the evaporator ll, an electric circuit'is made between the plates .43 and N, and the heat include plates 4: and

s 39 which operates the 45 by an overflow pipe l2 with a drain pan l1; The moisture evaporator ll thus senerated as Suitable shelves 47 compartment I I. Al 0 the cooling unit I2 to enhance the cooling effect 15 01', said unit. ins on the air in the compartment II flows e ge otthe b :over the upper edge of the baflle I4.

In the modification shown in Fig. I 00 is provided with a food storage compartment ng unitis provided for the compart I to'the unit I04. Automatic means for controlling the operation of the unit be provided. In this case a thermostatic 9 'may be placed near the outletot the cooling unit and may control the bellows III) which actuates asnap hich controls the starting and stopping of the motor II2. liquefying unit I04 the motor II2, a'compressor II 3, a condenser H4, and a liquid refrigerant receiver II 55 ice trays I I6 may be placed in section I02 h may be provided means for purifying the water and for bringit Thus a cake I I801. some pan may seep v and be evaporated from the outer surface of the I show various typesof I2. As this unit is not cold enough to 3, a cabinet may take the n evaporative coiltact with the air in refrigerant receiver purifier H8 and eventually is eva outer surface of the pan II1. may supply any deficiencies in mois *5 1 compartment IIJL The reservoir IIa take the form of an inverted bottle I20 which is connected by the pan III and this maintains a thepanII1.- The modifications shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9 hich supports from the edge of the pan. In

non-porous, in which merged edge. with a purifier as shown in Fig. 9 a drain pan IIIb may be provided with a purifier 8b which in this case merely rests on the bottom In e modification shown in Fig.4, a cabinet 4 line I29. The unit I21 may also include a compressor In the modification shown in I50 is Fig. 5, a cabinet may be provided which includes a ooling section I54,

connected with the evaporated hich refrigerant returns to I46, condenser I41 and liquid astorage'compartment I5I. I

the unit: I54. The unit I54 is controlled by a bulb I59 similar to the unit I64.

Means for humidifying the air in compartment vI5I may be provided. Thus the plate or air 5 cooling section I53 is provided with troughs I66 placed on both sides of the plate. A drinking water tank I6I is provided in the upper'par t of V This sump is provided with a purifler I66, made of activated charcoal or the like and submerged 20 therein. Means may be provided for circulating water from the sump I66 'to the troughs I66. Thus a pump I61, driven by motor I66 has its suction I69 placed in the sump I65 and its discharge leads through the pipe I16 to the upper 25 trough I66. An overflow pipe "I permits excess moisture to flow to a moisture evaporator I12 similar to the evaporator 4|.

In the modification shown in Fig. 6 a cabinet 266 is provided with a food storage compartment 30 ml provided with food shelves, not shown. .4. cooling unit 262 is placed in the upper'part of the compartment 26I. A refrigerant liqueiying unit 263, similar to the unit I64 furnishes liquid refrigerant through the line 264 to the expansion 35 valve 265. Expanded refrigerant flows through a hollow U-shaped sheet metal structure 266 around the ice freezing shelves 261 and from thence through the pipe 268 to the outer hollow sheet metal structure 269. ,The evaporated re- 40 frigerant returns through line 2I6 to the unit 263. Means are provided for moistening the air in the compartment 26I. To this end, the bottom wall 2 of the compartment v26I may be provided with means for maintaining a body of 5 water,'which means may take the form of troughs 2I2 which are fed by the pipe 2I3 from the drain pan 2I4. As moisture condenses on the unit 262 it drips to the drain pan 2I4, flows through the purifier 2I5, made of activated charcoalor the 50 like, and from thence flows through the pipe 2I3 to the troughs. 2I2 where a body of water is maintained in them and from which moisture is picked up by the circulating air. Any excess. moisture flows through the overflow pipe 2I6 5 to the moisture evaporator 2", similar to the evaporator 4|. The pipe 2I6 extends above the bottom of troughs 2I2 and maintains a body of water in them. v

The unit263 is controlled by a thermostatic 60 bulb 2l6 in a manner similar to unit I64. The operation of the various modifications is obvious,'being in general similar to that of tn modifications shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

While the form of embodiment of the invention 9 65 as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, a it is'to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow. I

What is claimed is as follows: I

' net having a food storage compartment, a cooling condensate from said cooling unit, means to purify 7 fled condensate into. the air in said compartunit for said compartment. a drain pan receiving sald condensate, and' means to evaporate the purlment by convection air currents, said last named means including a surface adapted to be moistened by capillary' action.

2. Refrigerating apparatus comprising a cabinet having a food storage compartment, a cooling unit for said compartment, a drain pan receiving condensate from said cooling unit, means to purify said condensate, and means to evaporate the purified condensate into the air in said compartment by convection air currents, said last named means including a porous wall in said drain pan.

3. Refrigerating apparatus comprising a cabinet having a food storage compartment with a vertical door in the front, a cooling unit at the upper part of said compartment, a flat baille extending horizontally beneath said cooling unit and forming a vertical flat flue at the rear of said compartment, an air moistener behind said baille,

a drain pan beneath said baflle, a pump connected to said drain pan. and moistener in fluid circuit relationship, and a purifier in said circuit.

4. Refrigerating apparatus comprising a cabinet having a food storage compartment with a vertical door'in the front, a cooling unit at the upper part of said compartment, a flat baflie extending horizontally beneath said cooling unit and forming a vertical flat flue at the rear of said compartment, an air moistener behind said baflle, a drain pan beneath said baiile, a pump connected to said drain pan and moistener in fluid circuit relationship, a moisture evaporator outside said compartment, and an overflow connection between said moisture evaporator and said drain pan.

5. Refrigerating apparatus comprising means forming a food storage compartment including a bottom wall, a cooling unit for said compartment, means for maintaining a body of water on said bottom wall in contact with the air in said compartment, said last named means including a drain pan for said cooling unit, and a flow connection from said pan to said bottom wall.

6. Refrigerating apparatus comprising means forming a food storage compartment including a bottom wall, a cooling unit for said compartment, means for maintaining a body of water on said bottom wall in contact with the air in said compartment, said last named means including a drain pan for said cooling unit, a flow connection from-said pan to said bottom wall, and a purifier for the moisture gathered in said pan.

'1 Refrigerating apparatus comprising means forming a food storage compartment including a bottom wall, a cooling unit for said compartment. means for maintaining a body of water on said vbottoinwall in contact with the air in said compartment, a moisture evaporator outside said storage compartment and an overflow from said bot! tbm.wal1 to said evaporator. v )8. Refrigerating apparatus comprising a cabinet having a food storage compartment and a ireezing compartment, cooling means for said yfpompartments, means for moistening the air in -,"said food storage compartment, a sump for ac- :igiumulating moisture removed from the air, a 'gfluid flow connection between said means for "moistening the air and said sump, and a iiluid kpurifler'in contact with said moisture.

compartment, a sump in said compartment re-' celving moisture separated from the air in said I compartment, and fluid flow connection between j 9. A refrigerating apparatus comprising a cabi- 1'. Refrigerating apparatus comprising a cabi- 'z net having a food compartment, a cooling unit said compartment, a trough above the bottom offor said compartment, a trough above the bottom of said compartment in contact with the air in said compartment,-a sump in said compartment receiving moisture separated from the air in said compartment, a pump for pumping water from said sump to said trough and a water purifier.

12. Refrigerating apparatus comprising a-cabinet 'having a food compartment, a cooling unit for said compartment, a trough above the bottom of said compartment in contact with the air in said compartment, a" sump in said compartment receiving moisture separated'from the air in said compartment, a pump for pumping water from said sump to said trough, and a moisture evaporator outside said compartment adapted to receive excess moisture from said compartment. I

13. Refrigerating apparatus comprising acabinet having a food compartment, a cooling unit for said compartment in contact with the air in said compartment, a sump in said compartment re- .ceiving moisture separated from the in said compartment, a pump for pumping water from said sumpto said trough anda water purifier in said sump."

14. A refrigerating apparatus comprising .in

combination, a cabinet having a plurality of walls forming a food storage compartment therein, a

cooling element within said food compartment,

said cooling element being adapted to condense moisture from the air in said compartment thereon and to have water dripping therefrom, a drain pan for receiving the condensate water dripping from saidcooling element, means for removing impurities from said condensate water, and means for causing the purified condensate water to evaporate into the air in said compartment by convection air currents. a

15. A refrigerating apparatus comprising -in combination, a cabinet having av plurality of walls forming a food storage compartment therein, a cooling element within said food-compartment, said cooling element being adapted to condense moisture from the air in said compartment thereon and to have water dripping therefrom, a drain pan for receiving the condensate water dripping from saidcooling element, means associated with said drain pan and forming a reservoir therein for means for causing the purified condensate water toevaporate into the air in said compartment by convection .air currents.

16. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, a cabinet having walls forming a food storage compartment therein, a cooling element in heat exchange relation with air in said compartment for creating acirculation thereof v in thecompartment, means. to circulate water in contact with'the air in said compartment, and means for removing impurities from the water being circulated. g

17. A' refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, acabinet having walls forming a food storage compartment therein, a cooling ele-,

ment in heat exchange relation with air in said compartment for creating a circulation thereof in the compartment, means to circulate water in contact with the air in said compartment, means for removing impurities from the. water being circulated,.and' means for evaporating excess mater flowing fromthe compartment to at-' mosphere outside said compartment.

18. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in a means for removing impurities from the water being circulated, and means for evaporating excess water flowing from the compartment to atmosphere outside said compartment, said last named means being normally ineffective and rendered efifective automatically bylthe flow of water from the compartment thereto.

19. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, a cabinet having walls forming a food storage compartment therein, a cooling element within said compartment for creating circulation of air therein, said cooling element being adapted to condense moisture thereon and to have water dripping therefrom whereby the circulating air is dehumidified, means for collectingthe drip water flowing from said cooling element, means for removing impurities from the water in said collecting means, and means for circulating the purified dripwater from said collecting means into contact with the circulating air in said compartment to. rehumidify the air.

20. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in" combination, a cabinet having walls forming a food storage compartment therein, a cooling ele- I ment within said compartment for'creating circulation of air' therein, said cooling element being adapted to condense moisture thereon and to have water dripping therefrom whereby the circulating air is dehumidified, means for collecting the drip waterfiowing from said cooling element, means for removing impurities from the water in said collecting means, means for circulating the purified drip waterfrom said collect v ing means into contact with the circulating air in said compartment to rehurnidify the air, and means for causing evaporation of excess water exteriorly of said compartment. J

2 1. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, a cabinet having walls forming. a

food storage compartment therein, a cooling element within said compartment for creating circulation of air therein, said cooling element being adapted to condense moisture thereon and to have'water dripping therefrom whereby the circulating air is dehumidified, means for collecting the drip water'fiowingffrom said. cooling element, means for removing impurities from the water in said collecting means, means for circulating the purified drip water from said collecting means into contact with the circulating air in said compartment to rehumidify the air, and means for'causing evaporation of excess water exteriorly of said compartment, said .last named means being normally ineflective and rendered effective automatically by the flow of excess water from said collectingmeans thereto.

22. The method of treating air within a re-,

frigerator cabinet which consists in, refrigerating the airto withdraw moisture therefrom to thereby dchumidify same, collecting the water dripping from the air refrigerating 'means, re moving impurities from the water in said collecting means, and then circulating the purified drip Water into contact with the air in the refrigerator cabinet to rehumidify same.

23. The method of treating air within a refrigerator cabinet which consists in, refrigerate ing the air to withdraw moisture therefrom to thereby dehumidify same, removing impurities from the moisture extracted from the air, and then circulating the purified moistureinto contact with the air in the refrigerator cabinet to rehumidify same.

24. The method of treating air within a refrigerator cabinet which consists in, refrigerating the air to withdraw moisture therefrom to thereby dehumidify same, collecting the water dripping from the air refrigerating means, removing impurities from the water in said collecting means,'and then circulating the purified drip water into contact with the air in the refrigerator cabinet to rehumidify same while evaporating .excess water dripping from the air refrigerating means to atmosphere outside of the refrigerator cabinet.

25. The method of conditioning air within an enclosure which consists in, treating the air to withdraw moisture therefrom to thereby dehumidify same, collecting water from the air treating means and removing impurities therefrom, and then exposing the purified water to air within the enclosure to evaporate a portion thereof into the air to rehumidify same.

26. The method of conditioning air within an enclosure which consists in, treating the air to withdraw moisture therefrom to thereby dehumidify same, collecting water from the air treating means and removing impurities therefrom, exposing the purified water to air within the enclosure to evaporate a portion thereof into the air to rehumidify same, and evaporating excess water to atmosphere outside of the enclosure.

HARRY B. HULL. 

